aldershot quarry community...
TRANSCRIPT
AGENDA
INTRODUCTION – PATRICK KELLY
LICENSE VS SITE PLAN – BOB LONG
STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION – JACK HEWITT
NOISE STUDY – ASAD RIZWAN, BRENT MILLER
QUESTION PERIOD
FINDING OF PM & SILICA MONITORING – AJAY MADAN
HUMAN HEALTH ASSESSMENT – GLENN FERGUSON
QUESTION PERIOD
SPECIES AT RISK STUDY – BRAD BRICKER
SALAMANDER STUDY – ANTHONY GOODBAN
ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY – ROBERT MACDONALD, BEVERLY GARNER
QUESTION PERIOD
SITE OVERVIEW – BOB LONG
BOB IS A 1971 WATER RESOURCE ENGINEERING GRADUATE AND A FOUNDER OF ONE OF ONTARIO’S FIRST ECOLOGICAL CONSULTING COMPANIES 1974
HE HAS DEVELOPED A SPECIALIZATION IN PITS AND QUARRIES SINCE 1980, AS PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT FOR ALL EXISTING AND PROPOSED SOUTHERN ONTARIO SHALE QUARRIES EXCEPT A SMALL ONE IN HALTON HILLS
BOB’S FIRM HAS BEEN RETAINED TO LOCATE NEW SHALE SOURCES; COORDINATE APPROVAL APPLICATIONS; DESIGN SITE PLANS; AND ADVISE ON PERMITTING AND OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW OF SITE DEVELOPMENT
• 1998: Ontario Municipal Board approve Tyandaga WEST BASED IN PART UPON S. S. WILSON & AGRA NOISE AND DUST RECOMMENDATIONS
• 1997: Aggregate Resources of Ontario Provincial Standards under ARA
• 2000: Aldershot plant commences operation using West Quarry shale
• Also Tyandaga West subdivision is registered
• 2005: Provincial Greenbelt Plan
• 2010: Revised Site Plan under the new Ontario Provincial Standards, Greenbelt Plan and Tyandaga subdivision undertakings
Aldershot Quarry fully compliant with Aggregate Resources Act, Endangered Species Act and Greenbelt Plan
TWO DOCUMENTS GOVERN PITS & QUARRY OPERATIONS License
Site Plan
STAGING AND REHABILITATION
JOHN (JACK) HEWITT P ENG
MERIDIAN BRICK CANADA LTD.
PROJECTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER
STAGING AND REHABILITATION
ACTIVITIES IN THE NORTH CORNER WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL LATE IN THE SITE’S LIFE—APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 YEARS FROM PRESENT TIME.
THE PLANNED ACTIVITIES IN STAGE 1 ENSURES A SETBACK OF A MINIMUM OF 215 METERS BETWEEN THE FENCE LINES AND THE QUARRY.
THE ENTIRE EAST QUARRY SITE WILL BE PROGRESSIVELY REHABILITATED AND FORESTED AS THE SITE IS EXTRACTED
STAGING AND REHABILITATION-TIMELINES
2017 FALL---COMPLETE INITIAL MITIGATION PLAN
2017 FALL ---INITIAL TRANSPLANTING OF NEW JERSEY TEA
2017/2018 WINTER--- ACCESS CORRIDOR TO WEST AREA OF SITE AND INITIAL TREE CLEARING
2019 TO 2023---SITE PREPARATION-STRIPPING OF STAGE 1 AND CONTINUING REHABILITATION OF CENTER QUARRY
2019 TO 2023--- SAR MITIGATION
2023-2033 ---STAGE 2 PREPARATION & EXCAVATION
2033-2038--- STAGE 3 PREPARATION & EXCAVATION
NOISE STUDY
SS Wilson Associates Consulting Engineers
Detailed Noise Control Study
East Quarry, Aldershot Quarries
Nov. 29, 2016
Presented By: Asad Rizwan, Brent Miller, and Hazem Gidamy
SS WILSON & ASSOCIATES
• SS WILSON ASSOCIATES ESTABLISHED IN ONTARIO IN 1975
• FIRM OFFERS FIELD MEASUREMENTS AND CONSULTING SERVICES IN ACOUSTICS, NOISE AND VIBRATION MEASUREMENTS AND CONTROL
• SS WILSON CARRIED OUT OVER 4000 PROJECTS IN ONTARIO
• AZAD RIZWAN & BRENT MILLER
PREDICTION OF QUARRY SOUND EMISSIONS
TO BUILD AN ACCURATE NOISE MODEL:
• Established the worst case hourly operational conditions
• Conservative sound level measurements were used based on actual field testing and up to date survey plans
• Used a state-of-the-art sound level prediction model accepted by the MOECC
• Several iterations of the model each representing possible operational scenarios were calculated to find the worst cases for noise from equipment operation
Construction noise was also modeled although not regulated
NOISE CONTROL STANDARDS
CONSTRUCTION NOISE: • Includes tree cutting, de-rooting, tree and overburden/topsoil
removal
• Exempt from consideration by the MOECC
• Meridian Brick requested that SSWA model construction noise for completeness
• Additional measures over and beyond the City bylaw were introduced
EXTRACTION OPERATIONAL NOISE: • Daytime standard of 50 dBA Hourly Average
• Ontario has one of the strongest Noise regulation policies in North America – Stronger than: USA’s EPA (55dBA), USA’s HUD (65dBA), Quebec (55 dBA)
• No Night or Evening Operations
• Worst case operational sound levels ranged from 43-49 dBA.
• However some receptors will experience lower levels depending on the exact operational area that day
NOISE CONTROL MEASURES AND PROCEDURES
EXISTING:
• 5m+ berm maintained between Quarry excavation area and homes where the distance setback is shortest
• Buffer of tree cover to be maintained ranging from 30m-100m
FUTURE:
• Mufflers on all tree removal and quarry equipment
• Tree removal to be conducted in winter where possible
• Removal of Topsoil and Shale to be done east to west
• Periodic short term monitoring during each new stage of operation
SOUND LEVEL PREDICTIONS – WORST CASE
THE QUARRY PROJECT IS COMPLIANT IN ALL RESPECTS WITH THE CURRENT APPLICABLE PROVINCIAL AND MUNICIPAL NOISE
STANDARDS
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STUDY
Pinchin Engineering
Short Term Predictive Ambient Air Quality Program
East Quarry, Aldershot Quarries
Nov. 29, 2016
Presented By: Ajay Madan, Malcolm Bingley
AJAY MADAN – PINCHIN LTD
PINCHIN LTD. ESTABLISHED IN 1981, SPECIALIZES IN ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE & REMEDIATION, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY, EMISSIONS REDUCTION AND COMPLIANCE, POLLUTION ABATEMENT
SENIOR PROJECT ENGINEER, PINCHIN LTD.
2002 – B.ENG. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
2004 - POST GRADUATE ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING APPLICATION, CONESTOGA COLLEGE
13 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING PREPARING AIR QUALITY ASSESSMENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE APPROVALS (ECAS) AND AIR QUALITY STUDIES.
EMISSION ESTIMATION AND DISPERSION MODELLING (RECAP)
• An emission estimation and dispersion modelling assessment was requested by Meridian to confirm whether East Quarry air quality forecasts, approved during the 1990s Tyandaga West subdivision planning process, were consistent with current Provincial standards and to provide estimates of silica for an assessment of human health implications.
• The assessment captured operations at the Centre Quarry and the East Quarry.
• The assessment captured three scenarios based on three time periods:
• A 5 year scenario (Centre Quarry only). • A 6 to 10 year scenario (Centre and East Quarry). • A 16 to 25 year scenario (East Quarry Only).
EMISSION ESTIMATION AND DISPERSION MODELLING (RECAP)
• The airborne particulate matter estimated in this assessment were:
• Total Suspended Particulate (TSP)
• Particulate Matter <= 10 micrometres (PM10)
• Particulate Matter <= 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5)
• Crystalline Silica
• Predicted concentrations were found to be below their respective MOECC regulatory benchmarks for all receptors.
• Modelling results were forwarded to Intrinsik for its human health assessment.
SHORT TERM PREDICTIVE AMBIENT AIR QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM
• A short-term predictive ambient air quality monitoring program was completed at the Aldershot Quarry in October 2017 to estimate the potential impact of quarrying activities on downwind receptors
• The short-term ambient program occurred on four separate days between October 3, 2017 and October 20, 2017.
• Warm, dry days were targeted.
• Sampling was completed at three monitoring stations (350 m or greater away from any house).
• Operations at the quarry during the sampling were considered normal with no abnormal or upset conditions encountered.
AMBIENT AIR QUALITY POLLUTANTS MONITORED
• The pollutants monitored during the short term ambient monitoring program were:
• Particulate Matter <= 10 micrometres (PM10),
• Particulate Matter <= 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5), and
• Respirable Silica.
• Monitoring results were compared to Ontario Ambient Air Quality Criteria (AAQC).
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF PM10 CONCENTRATIONS
0.0
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Concentr
ation -
(µg/m
3)
Date
October 3 - 20, 2017PM10 Concentrations
STN1
STN2
STN3
AAQC Limit - 50 µg/m3
GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF PM2.5 CONCENTRATIONS
0.0
5.0
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15.0
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Co
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(µg
/m3)
Date
October 3 - 20, 2017PM2.5 Concentrations
STN1
STN2
STN3
AAQC Limit - 30 µg/m3
SILICA CONCENTRATIONS
• The method detection limit for Silica is 1.4 µg/m³.
• Of the four days of monitoring, a Silica concentration above the detection limit occurred only once, at one monitoring station.
• The concentration of Silica at the monitoring station in this one occurrence was 2.5 µg/m³.
• The AAQC for Silica is 5 µg/m³.
MONITORING STATION RESULTS
• The following table summarizes the data collected at the quarry versus historic fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations for the City of Burlington on the sampling dates
Date/Time City of
STN1 STN2 STN3 Burlington
µg/m3 µg/m3 µg/m3 µg/m3
Oct 3 - 4, 2017; 00:00 to 00:00 9.4 6.8 7.8 9
Oct 6 - 7, 2017; 00:00 to 00:00 7.1 7.7 7.8 9
Oct 17 - 18, 2017; 00:00 to 00:00 4.9 4.7 5.5 5
Oct 20 - 21, 2017; 00:00 to 00:00 6.1 2.1* 6.0 5
* result considered suspect due to issues encountered with station monitor.
PM2.5 Results of Monitoring Program
Averages over 24 hour Period
HUMAN HEALTH ASSESSMENT STUDY
Intrinsik
Human Health Assessment
East Quarry, Aldershot Quarries
Nov. 29, 2016
Presented By: Glenn Ferguson
DR. GLENN FERGUSON - INTRINSIK
Intrinsik is one of Canada’s leading science based, health risk consulting firms specializing in providing expert advise to a wide range of clients on toxicology issues related to human health, the environment and regulatory affairs
Dr Glenn Ferguson is a Vice President and Senior Environmental Health Scientist for Intrinsik Group with more than 25 years of experience in areas of toxicology, epidemiology, human health and ecological risk assessment, and risk communication
GLENN HAS A PH.D. FROM UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO AND IS CONSIDERED A QUALIFIED PERSON – RISK ASSESSMENT (QPRA)AS DEFINED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT OF ONTARIO. GLENN HAS BEEN QUALIFIED AS AN EXPERT WITNESS ON ISSUES RELATED TO TOXICOLOGY AND RISK ASSESSMENT IN BOTH ONTARIO COURT AND THE ONTARIO MUNICIPAL BOARD
University of Waterloo: Adjunct Professor in the School for Public Health and Health Systems. Lectures on Environmental Toxicology and Public Health
DUST STUDY – PARTICULATE EXPOSURES
• Two of the key issues identified by community members has been the potential for health risks arising from exposure to airborne particulate and silica from the Meridian extraction operations.
• From a health point-of-view, research has shown that particulate matter less than 2.5 µm (i.e., respirable particulate) poses the greatest health risk because it can penetrate deep into the lungs.
• For the current assessment, PM2.5 concentrations were compared to a 24-hour acute benchmark of 25 µg/m3 established by the World Health Organization as the lowest levels at which total, cardiopulmonary and lung cancer mortality have been shown to increase.
• Annual average PM2.5 concentrations were compared to the chronic benchmark of 8.8 µg/m3 established by CCME protective of health.
DUST STUDY – PARTICULATE EXPOSURES
• For the current assessment, PM2.5 (i.e., respirable particulate) concentrations were predicted at the 35 receptor locations around the surrounding community.
• Air concentrations were predicted based on both emissions from Meridian operations alone, as well as cumulatively (i.e., Meridian-contributions on top of existing regional background concentrations) for two exposure scenarios:
• Short-term 24-hour exposures
• Long-term chronic exposures
• Air concentrations were also provided for each of the three stages of extraction for the proposed Meridian operations.
• These concentrations were then evaluated using appropriate health-based regulatory benchmarks.
DUST STUDY – PARTICULATE EXPOSURES
Conclusions on Particulate Assessment:
• Emissions of particulate matter from Meridian operations represent a small fraction of the overall cumulative particulate concentration (i.e., regional background sources dominate).
• Particulate concentrations emitted from Meridian sources alone are predicted to be significantly less than both acute and chronic health-based benchmarks, even under worst-case conditions.
• Cumulative particulate concentrations (i.e., regional background + Meridian) were predicted to exceed on 18 days over a five year period, but driven entirely by regional background contributions.
• On these “bad air days”, Meridian operations contributed only at most 0.6% of the predicted cumulative fine particulate concentration.
• Potential health risks to individuals in the surrounding community related to particulate emissions from the proposed expansion are expected to be negligible.
DUST STUDY – SILICA EXPOSURES
• Silica is an off-white granule that occurs naturally in various crystalline and amorphous forms.
• Crystalline silica is a basic component of soil, sand, granite, and many other minerals. It may become respirable size particles when industrial activities chip, cut, drill, or grind objects that contain crystalline silica.
• Silica is present in 255 industries, including mining, foundries, metallurgical operations, ceramics, cement, and glass industries, construction, sandblasting, agriculture, and denture manufacture.
• It is possible for silica to be emitted by Meridian operations, and as such have been evaluated in the current health assessment.
• However, recent air quality sampling conducted during the dustiest portion of the Fall showed non-detectable concentrations of silica in all measured particulate concentrations arising from Meridian operations.
DUST STUDY – SILICA EXPOSURES
• Silica is emitted into ambient air at low concentrations from a variety of natural and man-made sources.
• Exposure to high concentrations of silica occurs primarily in confined workplaces (e.g., hard rock mining).
• Long-term inhalation exposure to elevated silica concentrations can lead to the development of a respiratory disease called silicosis, identified by inflammation and scarring within the upper sections of the lungs by causing nodular lesions within the tissues.
• However, silicosis is rarely observed outside of occupational settings due to the need for prolonged elevated exposure consistently to crystalline silica dust for an extended period of time (e.g., 10 or more years).
DUST STUDY – SILICA EXPOSURES
• To evaluate the potential for health concerns from ambient silica concentrations, regulatory agencies have established a number of regulatory benchmarks.
• In Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) has a 24-hour Ambient Air Quality Criteria (AAQC) of 5 µg/m3.
• This AAQC was established to protect against long-term exposure to respirable silica leading to the potential for lung silicosis, and includes a 10-fold safety factor.
• Therefore, potential silicosis risks would require frequent significant exceedances of the benchmark on a consistent and reoccurring basis.
DUST STUDY – SILICA EXPOSURES
• Like the particulate assessment, silica concentrations (Meridian-along and cumulative) were predicted at the 35 receptor locations around the surrounding community for both:
• Short-term 24-hour exposures
• Long-term chronic exposures
• These concentrations were then evaluated using appropriate health-based regulatory benchmarks.
• The following slide provides an example of the cumulative silica concentration prediction for five years of daily concentrations at one of the closest residential receptor locations for the third phase of the Project (i.e., 16 to 25 year extraction stage scenario).
DUST STUDY – SILICA EXPOSURES
Conclusions on Silica exposures:
• Silica concentrations emitted from Meridian sources alone are predicted to be significantly less than both acute and chronic health-based benchmarks, even under worst-case conditions.
• Furthermore, cumulative silica concentrations (i.e., regional background + Meridian) are predicted to be less than both the acute and chronic health-based benchmarks at all receptor locations.
• Predicted silica concentrations were based on the assumption that 19% of particulate is silica. However, air sampling during Meridian operations in the Fall showed non-detectable levels of silica.
• Potential health risks to individuals in the surrounding community related to silica emissions from the proposed expansion are expected to be negligible.
• Routine air monitoring of particulate and silica concentrations are planned throughout all phases of the Project to demonstrate compliance with these health-based standards.
SPECIES AT RISK STUDY
Species at Risk Study
East Quarry, Aldershot Quarries
Nov. 29, 2016
Presented By: Brad Bricker M.Sc
Certified Senior Ecologist
SPECIES AT RISK STUDY
STUDY APPROACH & RESULTS
• Initial background data screening and contact with MNRF completed in 2012.
• In-season species at risk surveys completed in 2013.
• Surveys included plants, breeding birds and butternut.
• Species at risk recorded from the subject property included:
Eastern Flowering Dogwood
American Columbo
Mottled Duskywing
SPECIES AT RISK STUDY
STUDY APPROACH & RESULTS
• Eastern Flowering Dogwood is a small, Carolinian tree species. A fungal infection threatens this species. The majority of the dogwood trees are in declining health.
• American Columbo is a monocarpic, perennial herbaceous plant species.
• Mottled Duskywing is a medium sized butterfly from the Skipper family. Its host plant is New Jersey Tea.
• The habitat for all three species at risk is mainly associated with the valley slopes and forested rim of an intermittent tributary to Indian Creek.
SPECIES AT RISK STUDY
STUDY APPROACH & RESULTS
• All three species at risk are listed as Endangered in the Province of Ontario.
• The forests on the subject property provide potential habitat for four Endangered species of bat:
Little Brown Myotis
Northern Myotis
Eastern Small-footed Myotis
Tri-colored Bat
SPECIES AT RISK STUDY
SPECIES AT RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
Management measures to reduce the impact of the quarry on species at risk include the following:
Eastern Flowering Dogwood
• Protection of existing trees within setbacks and species at risk habitat management areas.
• Planting of nursery stock within south facing setback areas to offset tree removal for the quarry.
American Columbo
• Protection of existing plant population within a species at risk habitat management area.
SPECIES AT RISK STUDY
SPECIES AT RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
Mottled Duskywing (and host plant New Jersey Tea)
• Protection of New Jersey Tea (host plant) within species at risk habitat management areas.
• Transplanting of New Jersey Tea (and butterfly pupa) to proposed management areas with a southern exposure.
• Creation of butterfly restoration areas (southern exposure) within the Centre Quarry through a combination of New Jersey Tea plantings from nursery stock, transplanting of plants from areas to be excavated, and the addition of other native plant species as a food source (e.g. butterfly plant seed mix).
SPECIES AT RISK STUDY
SPECIES AT RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN
Bats
• Installation of different sized bat houses in forested setback areas to accommodate solitary and colonial bat species.
Monitoring
• On-going management of the habitat protection areas and the butterfly restoration areas will be required.
• The proposed species at risk management plan activities will be monitored annually for the life of the quarry.
• Adjustments to the management plan will be made, where necessary, to minimize the effect of the quarry on species at risk habitat.
SALAMANDER STUDY
Goodban Ecological Consulting Inc. (GEC)
SALAMANDER STUDY Anthony G. Goodban, B.Sc., M.E.S.(Pl.), MCIP, RPP Consulting Ecologist
ANTHONY GOODBAN
• ANTHONY GOODBAN IS PROFESSIONAL FIELD ECOLOGIST WITH 27 YEARS EXPERIENCE
• FOUNDED GOODBAN ECOLOGICAL CONSULTING INC
• ANTHONY HAS WORKED ON SALAMANDER- RELATED PROJECTS FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS
SPECIES AT RISK - SALAMANDERS
• Concerns have been raised by neighbours in 2016-2017 about the potential for Species at Risk salamanders to occur in the area. Some salamander photos were circulated showing what might possibly be a Dusky Salamander, but the photos are not definitive. Concerns have also been raised about the Jefferson Salamander. • In 2016 Meridian Brick retained Anthony Goodban of Goodban Ecological Consulting Inc. (GEC) to complete a detailed salamander survey for the East Quarry property and the adjacent City-owned open space.
Source (both photos): Goodban Ecological Consulting Inc. (GEC)
SALAMANDER STUDY TEAM
• GEC put together a team of salamander experts to work collaboratively on this project:
• Anthony Goodban (GEC) • Al Sandilands (Gray Owl Environmental Inc.) • Anaïs Boutin (Ecological consultant from Quebec) • Dr. Jim Bogart (Independent Researcher)
• So far, surveys were completed in November 2016, April and June 2017. • The team wants to find Species at Risk salamanders if they occur on the quarry property.
Source (both photos): Goodban Ecological Consulting Inc. (GEC)
DUSKY SALAMANDERS (STREAM SALAMANDERS)
• The Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander and the Northern Dusky Salamander are both endangered in Ontario and both are known only from the Niagara Gorge. They are closely associated with headwater stream habitats and also known as stream salamanders. Eggs are laid under streamside debris and larvae are aquatic. • The study team has completed four (4) detailed surveys so far, and no Dusky Salamanders have been observed to date. Virtually all rocks and debris in the headwater tributary were checked during each survey.
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander Northern Dusky Salamander
Source: Wikipedia Source: www.PAHerps.com
MOLE SALAMANDERS
• The Jefferson Salamander and related Jefferson Dependent Ambystoma Unisexuals are known to occur north of the quarry property. Both are endangered in Ontario. Vernal pools provide breeding habitat. Spotted Salamanders also live in this general area; they are not at risk. • These salamander species spend much of their time under rocks or rotting logs, or underground in small mammal burrows, and they are often referred to as “mole salamanders”. Mole salamanders prefer forested areas.
Source: Goodban Ecological Consulting Inc. (GEC) Source: Goodban Ecological Consulting Inc. (GEC)
MOLE SALAMANDERS
• Spotted Salamander egg masses were found in a small pool just north of the quarry property line on April 17, 2017. Some neighbours brought this to the study team’s attention. This pool was subsequently observed to be dry on June 5 and it had been dry for some time, even though we experienced a wet spring. The pool does not hold water long enough into the season to be a viable salamander breeding pool. There are no suitable breeding pools on the quarry property. • To date, no mole salamanders have been found onsite during the salamander surveys.
Source (all 3 photos): Goodban Ecological Consulting Inc. (GEC)
EASTERN RED-BACKED SALAMANDER
• Eastern Red-backed Salamanders are common in local woodlands and they are not at risk. Both colour phases, Lead-back and Red-back, occur on the quarry property. Red-backed Salamanders lay their eggs in damp, dark environments like rotting logs and under rocks. They do not require a stream or pool to complete their life cycle.
Source: Anaïs Boutin Source: Goodban Ecological Consulting Inc. (GEC)
EASTERN RED-BACKED SALAMANDER
• Ninety-one (91) Eastern Red-backed Salamanders have been observed in the study area to date. Some were the Lead-back Phase. • These salamanders were found under rocks, rotting logs and tree bark, and in piles of leaf litter.
Lead-backed Salamander Red-backed Salamander – Ventral view with ova
Source: Goodban Ecological Consulting Inc. (GEC) Source: Anaïs Boutin
SALAMANDER STUDY - SUMMARY
• The salamander study team has completed four (4) detailed salamander surveys so far. No Species at Risk salamanders have been observed on the quarry property to date. • The team is planning another three (3) surveys in April and June 2018 during optimal weather conditions. • A detailed report on the salamander study will be prepared later in the summer of 2018. • The team would really appreciate receiving any information on salamander occurrences in the neighbourhood.
Source (both photos): Goodban Ecological Consulting Inc. (GEC)
ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY
Archaeological Services Inc.
Stage 1 and 2 Archaeological Assessment of the
Meridian Brick Aldershot East Quarry
Nov. 29, 2017
Presented By: Robert MacDonald and Beverly Garner
BACKGROUND STUDY
Detailed research of the geography, history, and past and present land use of the property
Reviewed the Ontario Archaeological Sites Database to identify nearby registered sites
Potential is measured through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport’s Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists Stages 1-4
STAGE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Evaluating Archaeological Potential
RESULTS Property possessed potential for pre-contact Indigenous (9000 B.C. – A.D. 1650)
and historical (A.D. 1650-1900) archaeological resources
Entire property was recommended for Stage 2 Archaeological Assessment
1875 Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Wentworth
FIELD SURVEY
Property was assessed by hand shovel test pit survey at five-metre intervals
On-site documentation of all features of archaeological potential
Test pits excavated by hand into sterile subsoil
Soil screened by hand to identify and recover archaeological artifacts
Care taken to avoid disturbance to areas of New Jersey Tea plants
STAGE 2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Property Assessment
RESULTS
One pre-contact Indigenous archaeological site was identified
INTENSIFIED SURVEY
Additional test pits excavated at intervals of 2.5 metres around the site location
A one-metre-square test unit was excavated by hand
Site was documented through photography, mapping, and GPS
All artifacts were collected and analysed
STAGE 2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Property Assessment
RESULTS
Site was registered in the provincial archaeological database (AiGx-432)
Site was determined to have cultural heritage value based on set criteria established by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Site AiGx-432 was recommended for Stage 3 Archaeological Assessment
NEXT STEPS
ASI has been authorized to carry out Stage 3 test excavation in the Spring of 2018
In accordance with the provincial technical bulletin Engaging Aboriginal Communities in Archaeology, dialogue has been initiated with the Six Nations of the Grand River and the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation (MNCFN)
Monitors from these Indigenous groups will participate in the Stage 3 test excavation
STAGE 3 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Site AiGx-432
Prior to the Stage 3, ASI will consult with Plan B Natural Heritage to ensure there will be no damage to the New Jersey Tea plants
The results of the Stage 3 excavation will be used to determine if further Stage 4 mitigation is warranted